Forest Road 222 Campsite - Flagstaff

My campsite in the Coconino National Forest at 7,448 feet elevation. I wanted to acclimate before hiking up Humphrey's Peak the following morning. So nice to be away from the desert heat. This is Forest Road 222 off US180.

 

Dugas Road Campsite - Prescott National Forest

This morning, I had a doctor's appointment in Phoenix, so last night I camped a few miles east of I-17 off Dugas Road in the Prescott National Forest. It's not near any towns so it is rare that anyone else camps here. This semi-desert grassland is in the Lower Mogollon transition zone at 4,000 feet elevation. The Sonoran Desert lies to the south, and the Colorado Plateau is to the north.

That is Estler Peak on the left at 4,252 feet. About a year ago I hiked to the summit. It was pretty easy since the prominence is only 233 feet.

With nobody around for miles, I woke up free of depression. My only distress was that I had to return to work at Walmart the next day. But at least it was in Cottonwood. So far after one month, I like this store better than the one in Peoria. However, I miss my coworkers from Peoria.

Me in the evening.

  

Devil's Bridge - Sedona

At 5am I hiked out to Devil's Bridge in Sedona. I started early to avoid the horrifically crowded trail. I encountered a few people on the trail. When I arrived at the bridge at 5:45am there were already a few people there too. I got my photos and left quickly. On my way back the crowds were already on their way. Probably at least 2,000 people a day hike out to the bridge. It's sad that it is so over crowded. The hike is 4 miles round trip.

The Devil's Bridge

 

My route from Long Canyon Road.

Bear Mountain - Sedona

I hiked up Bear Mountain starting at 6:44am. I reached the summit in 2 hours and 6 minutes. It's 4.9 miles round trip with 1,984 feet of elevation gain. The hike took me 4.5 hours. This was my third time up the mountain. It's one of the most beautiful hikes in Sedona, and I have only encountered about a half dozen people on the trail each time. I enjoy hiking in Sedona, as long as I can easily escape the crowds. Fortunately any trail that is hard filters out most people. Also, these early morning hikes eliminate my depression that so often appears when I wake up.

Hot air balloon landing, and the Verde Valley.

I went off-trail and up the slickrock.

 

Humphrey's Peak on the horizon.

Lost Ranch Ruins Loop Trail - South Mountain Park

Since I have a dentist appointment in Avondale tomorrow, I decided to do a hike at South Mountain Park near Phoenix. I started my 5.9 mile hike at 6:07am to avoid the heat of the Sonoran Desert. I actually got up at 4:30am and drove south from the North Valley to the trailhead. The hike took me 3.5 hours with 1,256 feet of elevation gain. At more than 16,000 acres it is America's largest municipal park with three mountain ranges. I started at the Pyramid Trailhead, and took that trail to the Gila Trail, then connected to the steep Lost Ranch Ruin Trail and followed that to the National Trail. I followed that trail to the Eliminator Trail, and then to the Mine Drop Trail back to Lost Ranch Ruin, and Pyramid Trail.

The highlight of the hike was seeing a Speckled Rattlesnake. The quiet rattle caught my attention, and I saw it about 2 feet from the trail. Unfortunately, I couldn't get a photo because the snake quickly hid beneath the rocks.

The Estrella Range from the Gila Range.

Hiking the crest of the Gila Range.

The Estrella Range from the Gila Range.

Hiking the crest of the Gila Range.

The Ma Ha Tauk Range from the Gila Range.

Hiking the crest of the Gila Range.

My hike plus a one mile mistake.

 

Tuzigoot National Monument - Clarkdale, AZ

Tuzigoot (Apache for "crooked water") is the remnant of a Sinagua village built between 1000 and 1400. For 3 centuries they kept adding rooms to it. The original pueblo had 87 ground-floor rooms.

Schuerman Mountain - Sedona

This is a short and easy trail to the top of a basalt mesa overlooking Sedona and the Verde Valley. The summit of this extinct volcano offers wonderful views.